Fly Fishing Etiquette

[Stew]

Got this from Mark Bachmanns site

Steelhead Fly Fishing Etiquette
This is written at the request of several readers of the "Insider". With another summer steelhead season getting under way on the Deschutes River it seems an appropriate subject. The waters where large fish can be caught are our most cherished places. These places naturally attract numerous anglers. It is a physical law, the more moving bodies in an area the more friction they create. Some anglers seem to forget that fishing is supposed to be a recreation and that the other guy is entitled to have a good time too. Be kind to each other.


"The New Lexicon Webster's Encyclopedic Dictionary" defines et-i-quette as: the rules of behavior standard in polite society. In this letter they are simple rules to help avoid conflicts while fishing. Most fly fishermen don’t want onstream conflicts, which are most often caused by someone’s ignorance or lack of fishing etiquette.

Rule #1: Do unto other fishermen only what you would have them do unto you.
It only stands to reason.

Rule #2: Give other anglers their space.
Solitude can be an important part of angling. Be quiet.

Rule #3: Communication can solve a lot of problems.
Talking to other angler can stop conflict before it happens.

Rule #4: The angler who gets there first has first rights to a piece of water.
If he doesn't want to share, leave!

Rule #5: Don't cut the other guy off.
Never get into a run ahead of an angler who is fishing. Some anglers can cover a lot of water in a hurry. Ask if you can follow or go to the next run.

Rule #6: Leave nothing but your tracks.
Leave nothing. If you have to go potty, bury it.

Rule #7: Don't hog the water.
Fish through a piece of water in a reasonable length of time and then let someone else fish.

[ 08-17-2003, 06:01 PM: Message edited by: Stew ]

[Navigator]

Question:

How do you know how much of a downstream run to give the person working the run?

Here are some things I do to approach this question. I first look for obvious breaks. Could the person fish through that break? If not and it is less than 100 yards, I walk up to the person and politely ask if I can begin fishing the next run from the break on down. I have yet to be turned down.

I also watch on how fast the person is moving downstream. If the person doesn't move after 10 casts or so - I drop in below and don't sweat it. Of course, if you are close enough to ask to begin with - then ask.

Lastly, I vary my approach by the amount of crowd. If the river is crowded, I inform (rather than ask) that I am going to squeeze in based on distance of the pickets on the picket fence. If get a reaction, then I will suggest I fish behind the person.

Lastly, between Noon and 4:00 p.m. - there are plenty of spots to fish. Why is that :wink: ?

When in doubt, I move on and look for the next available water. That is what is great about the Deschutes - plenty of overlooked water that is a joy to fish (and who cares about the catching anyway).

[Slow and Low]

It seems to me that the rules of the game vary. For instance if you fish the North Umpqua everybody is uptight about the rules. If You fish the North Oregon Coast you have to squeeze in where you can.
Who is to say that a fisherman needs to fish a hole in a reasonable amount of time? What is a reasonable amount of time. For instance the fisherman at South Junction will park in a whole all day mymph fishing. In fact those fishing flies on the swing impede others.
The point I am trying to make is that if you publish rules for etiquette they are your rules. Although I am a die hard fly guy, I can't stand purists. If your idea is to be alone don't go to the Deschutes. There are people using spinners, side planers, bobber and jig, ect, ect, ect. Not everyone plays by your rules and you don't own the river.
The only problems I have ever encountered were from uptight fisherman swinging flies. In aggregate they are the rudist fisherman due to these non existant rules. They should go to Alaska and see fisherman standing elbow to elbow, or try the coast during a Salmon run. When they can take fish on a fly in these circumstances they can call themselves flyfisherman. There are way too many people on the rivers to reasonably expect any kind of privacy. If you seek privacy, be patient, fish when there are no fish, and most of all remember the few times you actually get it.

Just a thought.

[SSPey]

Those rules have been in place for eons, long before the Deschutes was a white man's fishery. The game has changed from sport to numbers.

[Stew]

Privacy is one thing, courtesy is another. These "unwritten" rules are just guidelines or suggestions.
Hopefully one would take others into consideration when fishing the Deschutes but if they don't I'll just move along to another area.

[Mad Mikey]

If the run has a tailout and a deflection below I call that a new hole, no problem stepping in below a guy.
I ALWAYS stop and talk to anglers that are ahead of me. If they beat me to the spot it is theirs and I am willing to go elsewhere.
Most times I am invited in.
I reciprocate profusely. I have a couple spots near Maupin that I can beat guys to the run religiously but always invite them in and I have made many new friends this way.
If some guys show up behind me and want to fish and one or both have never hooked a steelhead I will give up the sweet spot and sit on the bank to let them have at it.
I have caught a bazillion steelhead on the fly and it gives me pleasure to watch a newbie get into his first.
With the increased crowds and chances for friction I try to be as diplomatic as possible on the water. It belongs to everyone.
It is all about having fun and there is more room than you think, let's keep it that way.

[Slow and Low]

Mikey said it better than me. Appreciate it.

Slow. :cheers:

[lilnorthfork]

Slow and Low - With all due respect, seems Mikey said it completely different than you. Perhaps you have a deep disdain for rules, something many of us probably share. One beauty of a sport like fishing is that its rules have evolved over a long stretch of time as an extension of the people who share the experience. Most of all the rules are, for the most part, self-imposed... probably why it works better than most sets of rules. My $.02.

Mad Mikey - I've never even seen a steelhead in my whole entire life; would you please e-mail me with details of where and when you'll be throwing your next catching party. :grin: Seriously, what is a steelhead?

[ 08-28-2003, 08:48 PM: Message edited by: lilnorthfork ]

[Slow and Low]

Lilnorthfork,

A deep disdain for the rules? No that's not the case. The case is I question who's rules? Who do they benefit? Are they realistic? Are they self imposed, expected of others, ect, ect. I realize there are people who are told what the rules are, right or wrong, and never question them...most people don't. And if you assume you are in the right don't believe it. I realize Mikey said it "completely different" than me...I think that's what I said. What I also said was I liked the way he put it. In most cases if you walk up and talk with people they will generally let you in. In many cases people will simply step in. I don't like it when people step in, but I am not one to let that ruin my day. In fact last time I checked there was no law against it ...so why get heated up and start an argument fight ect.

Thanks for the input. I reminds me of why things should be questioned.

[lilnorthfork]

Slow and Low - I'm with ya. I've long held the believe that the answer is in the question... those who ask the question probably already have the answer. It is unfortunate so many people walk (and fish) their way through life without ever questioning. Yikes... maybe we should start a 'flies and philosophies thread'. :rolleyes:

[Mad Mikey]

There are always a few exceptions to the "rules" or what we percieve them as whether they are steeped in tradition or unique to a specific fishery or stream IMO.
The "tradition" of swinging flies for steelhead is to start at the top, work the whole thing to the bottom and the next in line follows after a comfortable distance has been created between anglers. This is probably the only way to go when fishing in mixed company but it is not always my M.O. when alone or fishing with a buddy who is as familiar with the spot as I.
After years of figuring this stuff out I've found it can be more productive to rotate through the "bucket" at the top many times or other proven "sweet spots" in the drift and take the chance at missing a fish in between.
I wish I had a dime every time I or a partner has nailed a fish right where one of us had been standing just 5 minutes prior. Not terribly traditional but productive nonetheless.
In retrospect to my last post, may spots on the "D" are not long, classic steelhead drifts but many little spots right together or boulder patches that don't really have identifiable characteristics such a riffle, bucket, tailout etc. I would never step in on a guy in that situation either, best bet would be to try and get behind or go elsewhere.
But, for example there are two sweet runs above Maupin that are one right after the other, they even have separate names. Many folk who aren't out there every week during the season as I am may not realize this and think they get the whole thing if they are parked at the top spot.
The first run is a gem but it is fairly short, really only a one guy spot. It shallows out severely, speeds up and then dumps over a bar to create the next run which is fishable a loooog way down.
If I'm in the top run and someone goes by and parks below there is nothing wrong with that at all. Although I definitely would fish it after finishing up with the top run I can't complain if someone else gets there first.
I got hollered at a few times years ago by parking in the bottom run but by now most of us who fish up there know you'd darn well better have your behind planted at your starting spot when you see a boat coming. Maybe a sad fact of life but very true.
I have started getting out of the boat in a non-obtrusive manner to chat with guys ahead of me when the crowds really started to get bad as my #1 rule. Have never had a negative incident once.
I also make it a point to wave someone in if there is room. Eventually it kind of snowballed and I have found the favors returned time and again and made many new friends and a few business contacts that way.
This AM I was first in a very good spot and two fellas came in about 20 minutes into fishing time looking rather dissapointed to see me there already. It was a long run and easily fished three guys. I told them to step in just about anywhere, so one guy went ahead a ways and one waited a bit and came behind.
Made two more friends today.... :cool:
As far as any "rules" are concerned, only ones involving legality or criminal behavior have to be followed.
Nope, no enforceable rule against jumping ahead of somebody. They have their license/tag and any other appropriate permits. It's their river too. And it does happen time to time, usually out of ignorance rather than intent though.
The politeness and communication works so well. Maybe THAT oughta be a rule, eh' guys???

:cheers:

[ 08-29-2003, 01:52 PM: Message edited by: Mad Mikey ]

[steelhead22]

Can someone tell me why the "tradition" is to work a run from the top to the bottom? I always work my way upstream, as the fish is facing into the current and upstream I can work in behind it reducing the chance of spooking it, right? I'm still a newbie at fly fishing for steelhead, so can someone explain? It just seems to me the working your way downstream would be less productive, maybe not on the "D" so much as it would in smaller, clearer streams and rivers.

[wade]

Steelhead22,
If you're nymphing your method would seem fine, if not better. Swinging though, the fish needs to see your fly before he sees you, your flyline, rod, or whatever else there is. Swinging as you work your way downstream ensures this. If you swing and work your way upstream you're walking on top of the fish before they see your fly.

Kevin

[Mad Mikey]

Unless you are nymphing or tossing dead drifted flies, swinging wets from above is the way to go.
For trout, yeah, work upstream. You are offering up something that is supposed to be food.
The river is a highway, not a home, to steelhead. It has rest stops, fast lanes and slow lanes etc.
They are beginning to get territorial and lash out at stuff that comes into their space.
Much like a dog or cat snoozing in the sun snapping at a lazy house fly buzzing around it the fish will take out an intruder in the same fashion.
Swinging flies is in essence exactly the same thing as working a lure downstream. The fish whack em' for the same reason. The fly is just more fun IMO, that's why I do it.
The reason you work downstream is that you are putting something into the fishs' personal space and trying to trigger a reaction, either fight or flight.
Believe me, steelhead can see your fly a loooong way before it comes into striking range.
When the fly gets too close the fish will react, either running from it, hitting it or backing downstream a bit. So, if you were fishing upstream you would be placing your fly further away from the fish with each cast.
Take a leap of faith and imagine the fish you haven't hooked yet is just sitting there contemplating it and backing downstream with each cast until it finally has had enough and whacks it.
If you are vigilant and watch your line you will see a "boil" or two behind your fly and maybe not feel a thing. If this happens keep casting, probably a good idea to take about three steps back upstream and work down to the fish again.
Vary your mends so the fly will speed up on the swing, this works well for me.
Anyhow, if you want some more tips, drop me a line. I'll help you with the "how" but you gotta PAY me for the "where" !!!!!!!!!!!!! :grin: :grin: :grin: